IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE, THE DEFENDANT SNOW-REMOVAL CONTRACTOR DID NOT NEED TO ADDRESS ANY ESPINAL EXCEPTION IN ITS ANSWER BECAUSE PLAINTIFF DID NOT ALLEGE AN EXCEPTION APPLIED; PLAINTIFF DID NOT DEMONSTRATE THAT AN ESPINAL EXCEPTION APPLIED IN OPPOSITION TO SUMMARY JUDGMENT; DEFENDANT’S SUMMARY JUDGMENT MOTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court in this slip and fall case, determined defendant snow-removal company (WM) did not need to address in its answer any Espinal exception to the rule that a contractor is not liable to a plaintiff who is not a party to the snow-removal contract because no Espinal exception was raised by the plaintiff in the pleadings. In opposition to the summary judgment motion, plaintiff did not demonstrate that any of the Espinal exceptions applied:

… WM demonstrated its prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against it by coming forward with evidence that the plaintiff was not a party to the snow removal contract … . Since the plaintiff did not allege facts in the pleadings that would establish the possible applicability of any of the Espinal exceptions, WM was not required to affirmatively demonstrate tat these exceptions did not apply in order to establish its prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law … . In opposition, the plaintiff failed to raise a triable issue of fact as to whether WM launched an instrument of harm … , and failed to raise a triable issue of fact as to the applicability of the other Espinal exceptions. Accordingly, the Supreme Court should have granted that branch of WM’s motion which was for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against it. Forbes v Equity One Northeast Portfolio, Inc., 2023 NY Slip Op 00305, Second Dept 1-25-23

Practice Point: Generally, in a slip and fall case, a snow-removal contractor is not liable to a plaintiff who is not a party to the snow-removal contract. The contractor will be liable only if an Espinal exception applies (for example, if the contractor “launches an instrument of harm” which injured plaintiff). If the plaintiff does not allege an Espinal exception applies, the contractor need not address the issue in the answer. If the plaintiff does not, at the summary judgment stage, demonstrate an exception applies, the contractor will be granted summary judgment.